Bold Plans Needed for African Cities

African cities scaling up on large infrastructure development projects are at the crossroads. Will dominant private sector interests overshadow the needs of everyday citizens? Or is there a window of opportunity to turn attention to real urgent urban issues?

Crumbling infrastructure in Africa results in losses of up to $40 billion in economic activity each year. In 2010 the World Bank estimated that Sub-Saharan Africa should be spending $93 billion per annum (15% of the regionís GDP) to close the infrastructure gap compared to other parts of the world. At the moment, domestic expenditure is $45 billion per annum. This is not even half of what is required. Improving the performance and efficiency of existing infrastructure at a cost of $17 billion could be captured, but this still leaves a funding gap of $31 billion per annum.

A number of multilateral and multi-agency investment programmes -- on the continental scale, such as the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa, and various country funding programmes -- aim to stimulate growth, create jobs, and generally contribute to more sustainable growth.

Sectors most in need are energy, connective infrastructure (roads, rail, ports, airports, ICT), and water and sanitation. Investing in these fundamental economic infrastructures will catalyse larger processes of economic development, resulting in increased land and asset values, which can be recouped and reinvested through taxation, transfers, and levies.

The modernization of infrastructure and development of new edge cities are highly contested, though. Professor Vanessa Watson of the African Centre for Cities recently reviewed a number of "urban fantasy" masterplans, in the style of Dubai and Singapore. These plans, developed by international architecture firms, are quite misleading in their representation of current living conditions.

Konzo City on the outskirts of Nairobi seeks to become Africa's Silicon Valley. (Source: PlusKenya)

Such plans have been developed for cities in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Konza City, on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, for instance, aims to become Africa's Silicon Valley. Local reports have already indicated that Konza City's construction has been stalled due to lack of government funding of the required infrastructure.

"Cities have to be seen as integrated and inclusive wholes, recognizing the interdependency of their parts," writes Watson. "Current thinking will greatly increase inequalities, social breakdown, more deprivation, more wasted public resources, and less environmental sustainability."

Preoccupation with large-scale, internationally competitive growth strategies is often blind to real local issues. In order to make room for these large developments, slum clearance is the order of the day. Badia East, a slum in Lagos, Nigeria, was recently razed to the ground, leaving 10,000 people homeless -- in order to make room for modern shopping malls and a new light rail network.

Rapid rural-to-urban migration will be a massive driver of slum growth in the next two decades, during which Africa will become a majority urbanized continent. Infrastructure development that is spatially planned to have the greatest impact will go a long way to ensuring inclusive and pro-poor city growth. Policy makers planning infrastructure need to consider:

Focus on integrated human settlements through citywide slum upgrading and higher-density housing, including security of tenure and land reform policies that will build resilient and people-friendly cities

Promotion of civic participation in decision making and planning of project phasing and rollout, and an enabling environment for ongoing community monitoring to ensure transparency

There are exciting prospects of alleviating slum conditions through citywide infrastructure development. But without such far-reaching reforms, social inequalities will be deepened, and development plans will largely benefit international companies rather than citizens.

Reality Cities Born in Zimbabwe is something one does not forget. Visit www.makabusi.com and www.starkorecity.com for a different view of "things" that matter.

Then consider a world wide phenomena that will never end -- migration.

The new colonials have arrived.

Without as much as a whisper the South African government allowed at least 400 000 Chinese to swamp the country during the past six years. Chinese migrants, mainly from the overpopulated Fujian province in China,have been shipped off to South Africa at an alarming rate. Spreading all over the country, even in the remotest parts, between 6 000 and 12 000 "Chinese shops" sprang up - indicating that the phenomenon is well-orchestrated by both China and South Africa ..

Prof Colin McCarthy, retired from the University of Stellenbosch , first noted the "Chinese colonization". Says Prof McCarthy: "All the evidence indicates that the project to set up such an extensive network of Chinese shops, all following the same pattern and targeting the same market, was well researched, well planned, well organized and well financed".

The young, unemployed couples from Fujian province settled into the network - pushing up cheap Chinese plastic, products and clothing into a lucrative retail chain far bigger than Pick 'n Pay, Pep Stores or Edgars. To make matters worse: most of theChinese shops are not registered and do not pay any taxes in South Africa' not even import or export duties - in fact, China puts its clothing exports to South Africa to R11,3 billion in 2010; whilst South Africa's failing statistics put the Chinese clothing imports at only R6,7 billion! It means that in one single year R4,6 billion worth of Chinese clothing entered South Africa illegally.

A South African Revenue Services employee spilled the beans on a small Chinese shop in a rural area where, when raided by SARS,R1,2 million was found under the counter.

Janet Wilhelm of the HSRC observes: "It is amazing how so many people can enter a country seemingly unnoticed!" She quotes the SAPS Aliens Investigation Unit as saying "Many Chinese travel to South Africa via Mbabane , Maputo and Maseru from where they enter South Africa with false identity documents by road".

Patrick Chong, chairman of the Chinese Association of South Africa, says: "Many would enter on tourist or student visas then simply stay".

Researches of Noseweek followed the Chen family where one pioneer settled illegally in South Africa , spreading within four years to 172 members of the family scattered across Lesotho trading Chinese products.

What is even more mind-boggling and sinister is that the South African ANC government officially proclaimed Chinese as "honorary blacks", making them exempt from affirmative action, quotas and Black Economic Empowerment.

The whole "Chinese" experiment has been carefully planned, criminally enhances, and no doubt .. Vast sums ofmoney are involved, lining the pockets of very influential South African politicians.

It is ironic that while populists like Malema and Shivangu walk about claiming "land and minerals for the South African people", the ANC government has allowed at least 400 000 additional Indians and Pakistanis, at least 400 000 Chinese and at least 10 million illegals from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, Angola and now also Zambia into the country..

Scary! And this happened as the increasein rhino and other poaching started! Coincidental? I think NOT!

-- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Pinpoint Securemail, and is believed to be clean.

Re: slums City Solver, I don't think that the comment on the livelihoods networks and associational ties that exist in informal settlements is "romanticising" life in slums at all. There are so many examples of how connections between people is the glue that holds dynamic informal economy together, whether it be recycling, services, production of goods, etc. And on the topic of settlement typologies and densities; environmental impact; communal associations; - you have said it all...

So I am not sure I follow your logic here Terry. How are you making a jump to such wild statements like "we should then be commending murderers for helping with population control" and "I've been rich and I've been poor, and rich is better."

Don't forget that slums are systemic urban issues, which dates back to colonial master plans that segregated cities for the colonial powers and white priviledge. The "informalisation" of African cities are breaking down these spatial divisions. Yes, here you will find the poorest of the poor. But informal settlements are dynamic places, and we need to TOTALLY discard the notion of "eradicating" them, and move to progressive steps to development them, providing infrastructure, use transport systems to connect them, and provide alternative and cost effect housing solutions.

slums I said in my comment that slums need not be kept. I am not romanticising them, I am saying, not very clearly it seems, that there are some things about them that new development can learn from, and that we in the developed world dont hold perfect answers. Clear the slums yes, but do it carefully and learn before you bulldoze, ask questions, what can we learn from the people who live in them, is there anything at all about slums that is good and can be taken for itself and infused into new housing design. (ie density or local patterns) It is arrogance to think we have all the answers, especially when we in the developed world are the least sustainable societies on the planet. This sensitive approach is at the heart of what defines 'Sustainable development'.

Re: slums Sorry, CitySolver... using that same ironic logic, we should then be commending murderers for helping with population control. Might there also be a little romanticizing of poverty in your comment about the "strong communal spirit" in slums? I'm reminded of that recycled aphorism, "I've been rich and I've been poor, and rich is better."

Out of Africa It's great to see some focus on Africa in Future Cities; it's exciting that there are some real prospects for smart, controlled development on the globe's most neglected continent. Hard to come to any firm conclusions about what Chinese money sprinkled liberally across the region will mean... as an American who's benefitted from American capitalism and the exploitation of resources abroad, I can't exactly throw stones here. One hopes the Chinese will be mindful guardians of what they extract from Africa.

Yes, the ironic thing is that slums are good for the environment, they use minimal energy and have a strong communal spirit, but before people accuse me of racism and first world arrogance (even the name first world is awful!), I absolutely dont think that we should keep them or that the people are happy there, however there are some elements that should be kept, like the collective feeling, the use of natural materials where possible and the dynamism of theses places where life goes on desptite terrible odds. They are the best and the worst of places, while we must solve the worst (bacteria, unacceptable drinking water, lack of technological opportunities) we should aim not to lose the good stuff.

Re: South and South Thanks for the Dambisa article, Walter. The extend and variety of Chinese investment is impressive -- greater than I had realized. It was the neo-colonialism aspect I had heard about and so I wondered if these young countries might be signing over their natural resources longterm without getting a full and fair exchange. Time will tell, no doubt. But as you say, if the government and private sector can't provide the type of infrastructure etc. needed to push the country forward, maybe there's no alternative.

Re: verdant cities City Solver, I don't like the graphics that much! As I wrote, these are often "fantasy" plans created by international design and architecture firms which is really out of touch with local conditions.

The use of anything remoting associated with "slum clearance" should be totally avoided. We need to move beyond this discourse, which was really prevalent in the early 2000s towards speaking of incremental upgrading. So I do agree with what you are saying about displacement of the poor. Slums are the most pressing agenda of our urban times and we need more critical engagement about what this will look like. Cities will have slums in the foreseeable future, and these are likely to become larger and larger...

Re: South and South That's pretty difficult to say. 2014 does mark a considerable milestone in Sino-African trade relations which crossed the $200 billion mark, a growth of 700% over the past decade. I would say that a lot of China's outward growth strategy is determined by its local economic growth rates, which seem to be slowing down.

Economics is not my strong point, but what I have read it seems that there are arguments for and against. That is - Chinese infrastructure development is happening at a pace that neither the state nor the private sector is able to deliver, but then this is not uncontested, with many pointing to dumping, price fixing and neo-colonialism (see Dambisa Moyo's article)

Re: South and South African authorities are handing over rights to natural resources (minerals, fisheries, agriculture land) to the Chinese in exchange for the increased trade and infrastructure development.

That's a pretty alarming scenario, not that the Chinese are the first to do this, of course. But do you have a sense of how long term these agreements are? Are we talking 5 years, 8 years, or decades?

Smart City Money Makerscompanies and solutions that are most prominent, and destined to be most profitable, in the smart city revolution.

How to Make Your City SmarterCities all over the world need to become smarter and more sustainable. But where to start? Download this guide to learn the first, proven steps toward making your city smarter.

Site Moderators Future Cities is looking for engaged readers to moderate the message boards on this site. Engage in high-IQ conversations; earn kudos and perks. Interested? E-mail: moderators@ubmfuturecities.com

directory

Designed to provide the people with access to green building products all year round